Global Fast: how to really offer it up this Ash Wednesday

Idea exchange
February 2007

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Global Fast: how to really offer it up this Ash Wednesday

Global Fast: how to really offer it up this Ash Wednesday
A young Harvard graduate hopes to unite 10 million Americans and 50 million people worldwide in charity, fasting, and prayer on Ash Wednesday, February 21, through Global Fast.

Joining an ancient spiritual practice with 21st century charity entreprenuerialism, Global Fast asks participants to "share their food" by pledging the money they would have spent on food for that day to an international charity that fights hunger.

"Charity is only half of it-the real key is the spiritual power of millions of us praying together," Rich Halverson, a 25-year-old Catholic, said in a press release. He encourages all to participate, however, "whether you pray every day or haven't talked to God in years."

Participants give their name, e-mail, and pledged donation at gf07.com or sign up sheets sent into Global Fast, which will e-mail the participants as the day of fasting approaches so that they can choose which faith-based charities will receive their donation. Global Fast aims to partner with charities with a 95 percent efficiency rating (meaning only 5 percent of donations go to overhead) and whose leaders say they will match the gifts of fasters.

Global Fast's official project is moving families in Cap-Haitien, Haiti from a dump to a sustainable community through Food For the Poor. A group of 100 fasters can move out one family if each person donates $20, which will be matched by FFP. Together the two organizations hope to move 100 families at a cost of $400,000.

Resources, such as a sign-up sheet, are available online for groups that want to undertake the challenge together or participate in grassroots marketing. Global Fast also has its own MySpace page , Facebook page (have to log in to see it), and a series of videos on You Tube.

The business arm of Global Rescue, a group dedicated to local leadership and taking action against injustice and fasting throughout the year, sells T-shirts to support the charity's operation.

Rich Halverson will be featured as the In Person in July 2007 special young adult issue of U.S. Catholic.—Megan Sweas

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